Bengals in position to take best player

April 18, 2013|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

NFL Team Report - Cincinnati Bengals - INSIDE SLANT

The biggest reason why the Bengals have made the playoffs three of the past four years has been the success of their draft classes. Besides a more consistent approach in philosophy, there has also been a little bit of luck involved. The years where they have had a dire need in a certain position, that has been the year when they have been stocked.

The past three drafts have also proved that while Mike Brown remains in charge of the draft room, he is listening to his coaches and is now putting their opinions above his own. The best example came late in the first round last year when the Bengals traded down, added a third-round pick and took offensive guard Kevin Zeitler with the 27th overall pick. It was the first time in team history that they took a guard in the first round.

Leading into the draft, Brown has always been leery about taking a guard that high, but he listened to his coaches. At least it's better late than never. Bruce Coslet is still steaming about not taking New Orleans' offer of their entire draft to move up to the third pick and take Ricky Williams.

In 2010, when they took Jermaine Gresham in the first round, they had taken a tight end that early only one previous time in team history. This year all eyes are on safety, where the only time the Bengals have taken one in the first round was Darryl Williams in 1992.

Said defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer about what he is looking for: "Two safeties with basically the same ability level that can play strong or free or cover this guy or cover that guy. When you talk about the 11 guys, you say four defensive linemen and four defensive backs, I'm not sure you shouldn't be saying the starter nowadays is five DBs and two linebackers just because of the number of nickel snaps that those guys play."

With this being one of the deeper safety classes in terms of quality at the top, the Bengals have had Kenny Vaccaro, Matt Elam and Eric Reid in for visits and will work out Jonathan Cyprien before the draft.

Also qualifying for an emerging need is offensive tackle since Andre Smith remains unsigned. The team likes Anthony Collins and Travelle Wharton has experience at tackle, but if D.J. Fluker is there, that could be a possibility.

With talks to add a veteran outside linebacker such as Karlos Dansby or James Harrison at a standstill, they could also put a focus there early. However, the SAM linebacker was in for only one-third of the snaps last season.

There is also a need for a change-of-pace back to complement BenJarvus Green-Ellis, which they could get with one of their two second-round picks, and add to depth on the offensive and defensive lines. Whoever they pick, Lewis seems confident that they will be better contributors than what they could have got in free agency.

Lewis has said throughout the offseason that he can see the Bengals added 3-4 starting-caliber players; they just might not start immediately nor do they have to with what the team has coming back.

"We're going to add to the talent pool and it's going to be exciting," Lewis said. "They all aren't going to start. One or two might. Just what I know it could be a linebacker, receiver, defensive end, running back, safety. Every position wherever we're picking we're going to add some good guys."

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NFL Team Report - Cincinnati Bengals - NOTES, QUOTES

--Wide receiver A.J. Green has been in Atlanta the past two months working out with Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas and former Bengal Andre Caldwell. Green's biggest goal going into this upcoming season is to cut down on the number of drops after he had seven last year.

For the offense, it is getting more consistency on the deep ball. In the AFC wild-card game loss to Houston, quarterback Andy Dalton and Green just missed connection on what would have been a 36-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that would have given the Bengals the lead.

Dalton said he has watched video of that play numerous times but Green said he has not. It will likely come up when Green starts going through tapes of the long ball.

"We missed some stuff on the deep ball so we both have to work on that," Green said. He also noted that there weren't that many deep passes as there were in 2011 because defenses played them differently but he did agree that "sometimes you have to take chances."

--Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said he has spoken with free-agent right tackle Andre Smith a couple times, but did not have any indications if Smith would be back.

Said Whitworth: "That's his decision. That's upstairs' decision. We'd love to have him back. If it doesn't happen, we have to move on. We've been in that position before. You have to be prepared for everything at this level. That's one thing you learn quickly."

Whitworth also noted that he was not concerned who is at right tackle at the moment since training camp doesn't start for another three months.